Shipping box or crate.



No. 843,816. PATENTBD PBB.12','1907. \J. E. HITGH.

SHIPPING BOX 0R CRATE. PLIATION FILED HAB. 21, 1905.

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JOHN E. HITCH, OF SNYDERVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL H. SNYDER, OF SNYDERVILLE, OHIO.

SHIPPING BOX OR CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed March 2l, 1906. Serial No. 307,237.

To a/Z wil/071i, t Trudy concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. HITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Snyderville, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping Boxes or Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping boxes or crates; and the general object in view is to make the structure light, strong, and cheap.

It consists, essentially, of a bottom, back, top, and sides composed of an inner lining and an outer frame of slats having their ends provided with slots or recesses in which is located at either end a metallic band or tape, to which the strips are also secured, the ends of the bands terminating in a suitable fastening whereby they may be. interconnected after the box or crate is packed, thus holding down the cover and tying the structure together generally, there being end pieces or heads to which the bottom, back, and front are connected.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and on which like numerals indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved box or crate; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a detail enlarged end elevation of one corner, showing the fastening devices in an intermediate position assumed in interconnecting the parts; and Fig. 4, a detail horizontal sectional view of one corner of the box or crate.

The numeral I designates the inner lining, of pasteboard or other suitable fabric or of a veneer of wood. By preference this lining is of one continuous piece, commencing with the front and extending thence across the bottom and thence up the back and iinally across the top, as shown in Fig. 2. This lining is secured in place by being clamped between the ends or heads 2 and the framing-strips 3, which extend across the front, bottom, and back. It is also secured to the strips 4, which form a part of the top. A further lining 5 is preferably, though not necessarily, applied to the inner surface of the ends or heads, to which it is suitably attached-as, for instance, by tacks 6.

The strips 3 and4 are all interconnectedby means of two continuous metallic bands or tapes 7, which are litted into slots 8 in the strips, so that the bands or tapes do not extend outward beyond the strips, and thus, in fact, occupy no space in addition to that which the strips themselves occupy. The fastenings, such as nails or screws 9, which secure the strips 8 to the ends or heads 2, also secure the bands or tapes to the strips and incidentally secure the lining 1 by binding it between the strips 3 and 4 and the heads or ends 2. Similar fastenings l() secure the bands or tapes 7 to the strips 4 and by preference also secure the lining l to these strips 4. Thus the top is formed, and as the bands or tapes are soft and pliable they bend at the point 1l and, in effect, constitute hinges for the top.

When the box or crate is ready for shipment, the projecting ends l2 of the bands or tapes are passed through links 13, carried by the other end of the band or tape and secured by bending the extremity 14 around the link and passing it into the slot 8 in the upper strip, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where it is secured by the fastening device 9, as shown in Fig. l. Then the ends l2 are turned back until they overlap on the strip 4, as seen at l5, where they are secured by a suitable fastening or nail 17, as shown in Fig, l. The link folds down over the adjacent part of the lining l, and thus avoids forming a projection beyond the surface of the structure. Some other form of fastening may be employed than the one shown and described.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a strong, cheap, and light shipping box or crate and one which may be used over and over again, as for return shipments. The top may be readily fastened and unfastened for use and reuse.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A shipping box or crate composed of an inner lining, an outer framing consisting of a series of strips having each a slot, bands or tapes extending around said outer framing and each fitted into the slots of the strips and each adapted to have its ends interconnected, and ends or heads secured permanently to the lining and strips along the front, bottom and back.

2. A shipping box or crate composed of an IOO IOS

inner lining, an outer framing consisting of a succession of strips each having its ends slot ted, and a hand or tape inserted in said slots at each end of the strips extending around said outer framing, means for intereonneeting the ends of each band to each other and ends or heads permanently seeured to said strips along the front, bottom and back.

3. A shipping box or crate composed of an inner lining for front, bottom, back and top, an outer framing consisting of a series of strips having each a slot near its end, a band or tape itted into said slots at either end of the strips, a link loosely secured to one end of each hand or tape and adapted to receive the other end and to fold down over the lining near the adjacent strip when such end is bent back and secured, ends or heads each also having a lining and each permanently secured to the strips and other lining.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

` JGHN E. HITCH. itnesses:

E. O. HAGAN, F. W. SGHAEFER. 

